Woodland Park Zoo

Holiday Guide: Holiday Lights at Woodland Park Zoo

When it comes to the holiday season and finding those fun and memorable things to do with the kids, we like to head to some of our favorite places. This includes the drives downtown to look at all of the business's and the decorations they put out along with heading to one of our favorite places for the family, our local Woodland Park Zoo. So when we were invited to head out to the Woodland Park Zoo to check out the WildLights displays that they currently have up and available to see now through January 1st, we were excited!

At this nightly display, when you head to visit the Woodland Park Zoo with your family, you are sure to see many amazing light displays. Where monkeys are playing in the trees above, elephants are walking to the watering hole where hippos, giraffes and lions are relaxing, and even visit the man himself, as you head to Santa's village where Santa awaits to greet young visitors!

Then along with all of the fun lights and visiting with Santa, you and your family can even visit with some of the animals who are there are ready to greet guests. These animals include birds with their handlers, the various reptiles, and even some reindeer! Which for us, made the WildLights at the Woodland Park Zoo, a night that was fun and memorable for the entire family. More information on WildLights can be found below:

The illuminating, after-hours event is going on now for the general public and will continue through Monday, January 1, 2018, 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. nightly. WildLights will be closed December 24 and 25. Over 600,000 energy-efficient LED lights illuminate the paths of Woodland Park Zoo through dazzling displays of wild animals and exotic destinations.

WildLights guests can enjoy brilliant indoor and outdoor displays, a Winter Warm Up area, a ride on the zoo's decorated Historic Carousel (additional fee) and a visit from Santa and a couple of his reindeer! Zoomazium, the zoo's indoor nature play space, will be transformed into Snowmazium which will be open every night for storytelling and the ever-popular [faux] snowball fights. While most of the zoo's animals will be nestled in for the night, several creatures will still be stirring at the Adaptations Building, which houses sloths, Indian flying foxes, Komodo dragons and meerkats. In addition, the zoo's animals and keepers from the cast of "Earn Your Wings" will make scheduled appearances at Wildlife Theater Fridays through Sundays.

The Winter Warm Up area is back. It will be located at the south side of the Rain Forest Food Pavilion and open every night to guests of all ages. The Winter Warm Up area will offer for purchase delicious winter treats including flat bread pizza, make-your-own s'mores kits, and hot cider and cocoa. Guests 21 and older can enjoy a selection of hand crafted local beer and wine and specialty hot drinks while cozying up under the covered [outdoor] space or near one of the many fire pits located near the Rain Forest Food Pavilion and Pacific Blue Chowder House. ID is required to order alcoholic beverages. The Pacific Blue Chowder House, located on the east side of the zoo, will feature a selection of house-made chowders, burgers and hot drinks.

WildLights: November 24 - January 1, 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. nightlyWildLights will be closed December 24 and 25

WildLights tickets can be purchased online by visiting zoo.org/wildlights or at zoo gates during regular zoo hours. Night-of-event tickets will be sold at the zoo's West Entrance, if not sold out. WildLights will be a rain or shine event - there will be no ticket refunds.